Climate battle to heat up

Albo sets Labor’s agenda

OPPOSITION Leader Anthony Albanese has recommitted Labor to a net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, saying it should be “non-controversial’’ to go carbon-neutral.

Mr Albanese will make the commitment at a speech in Melbourne today, saying 73 countries — including the UK, Canada, France and Germany — had already adopted it as a goal.

“All states and territories in Australia have already promised to operate in a carbon neutral way by 2050,’’ he will say.

“The Business Council of Australia is calling for it. AGL, Santos, BHP, Amcor, BP, Wesfarmers, Telstra and others all agree.

“Whether the current government accepts it or not, this goal is fast becoming the reality.’’

Labor first committed to a 2050 carbon neutral target under former leader Bill Shorten in 2015.

The Coalition has not agreed on a 2050 target, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison seeking costings on emissions abatement first, and saying he was focused on technological advances and keeping electricity costs down.

Mr Albanese has not said how Labor would achieve its target.

Labor has also not spelled out a shorter-term target, although it is likely to do so before the election.

The Government says it will “meet and beat’’ its commitments to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030.

Mr Albanese’s speech today will rule out the use of “carryover credits’’, or relying on over-achievement from the earlier Kyoto agreements, to reduce carbon emissions to meet the target.

The Government is also likely to abandon its plans to use carry-over credit, following heavy criticism over its handling of climate change in the wake of the devastating summer bushfires.

Mr Albanese will say the 2050 target would be a “real target, with none of the absurd nonsense of so-called ‘carryover credits’ that the Prime Minister has cooked up to give the impression he’s doing something when he isn’t’’.

“A Labor Government will never use Kyoto carry-over credits,’’ he will say.

Mr Albanese will also spell out five themes to guide a “positive agenda for a future Labor Government: jobs and growing the economy; fairness and opportunity, including education and health; nationbuilding infrastructure; climate change action and enhancing our natural environment; and a strong global voice.